Female boxer to earn medal
“I’m just trying to soak it up. It’s pretty amazing just being on TV and being in the village with all these amazing athletes.
“It’s back to the navy for me now. It’s probably not the result they wanted me to get but I think they’ll still be proud.”
For Garton, nerves built throughout the week as she was forced to wait seven days for her first bout.
The one-time Shortland Street actress, and costume and wardrobe worker on the show Spartacus, overcame a huge height and reach disadvantage to claim a gutsy unanimous win over Botswana’s Aratwa Kasemang.
Garton kept walking forward, landing the much heavier blows to progress to the semifinals, where she meets Australia’s Anja Stridsman.
“I knew I was going to have to take a few punches to get in there, which is always hard; no one wants to get hit but it worked,” the 30-year-old said. “I’m someone that aims high, so I want that gold medal. Having that goal means I’ll work harder to succeed at that.
“It’s going to be a tough next fight but I’m ready for it. Our friendly neighbours next door . . . I love fighting the Aussies.”
In yesterday’s other bout featuring a New Zealander, Upper Hutt’s Ryan “Lionheart” Scaife put up a brave fight in losing his quarter-final to Botswana’s showboating Dieudonne Wilfred Seyi Ntsengue in the 75kg division.
Scaife landed plenty of slick combinations but could not do enough to convince the judges to rule in his favour.